Elections 2018

Opinion

Kerry Calls On Taliban To Choose Path To 'Honorable' Peace

The Taliban should look at the example of a deal between the Afghan government and militant comman

The Taliban should look at the example of a deal between the Afghan government and militant commander Gulbuddin Hekmatyar as a path to an "honorable" peace in Afghanistan, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday.

Addressing delegates at the Brussels Summit on Afghanistan, which is aimed at raising funds for the Afghan government, Kerry said that the Taliban could not win on the battlefield.

He pointed to a peace agreement announced last week with the Hizb-e-Islami headed by Hekmatyar, "one of the country’s most notorious figures," Reuters reported.

"This a model for what might be possible ... I think the message from every person here would be to the Taliban, take note," Kerry said.

"There is a path forward towards an honorable end to the conflict that the Taliban have waged – it is a conflict that cannot and will not be won on the battlefield. A political settlement negotiated with the Afghan government is the only way to end the fighting, ensure lasting stability, and achieve a full drawdown ultimately of international military forces, which is their goal," he said.

"Their goal of ridding Afghanistan of external forces will not occur by ... the continued insurgency, it will come though peace," Kerry added.

Last week's agreement requires Hekmatyar to cease violence, cut all ties with international militant groups, and accept the Afghan constitution, including its guarantee of rights for women and minorities.

"In return for keeping these commitments, Hekmatyar’s group will be able to emerge from the shadows to rejoin Afghan society," Kerry said.

The agreement will grant Hekmatyar amnesty for past offences and the release of certain Hizb-e-Islami prisoners. The Kabul government also agreed to press for the lifting of international sanctions on Hekmatyar.

The Brussels conference is expected to pledge more than $3 billion USD a year of development assistance to the Afghan government and Kerry said this was a sign that the world would stand by Afghanistan, Reuters reported.

"The Taliban and their allies cannot wait us out ... We will not abandon our Afghan friends," Kerry said.

Kerry Calls On Taliban To Choose Path To 'Honorable' Peace

The Taliban should look at the example of a deal between the Afghan government and militant commander Gulbuddin Hekmatyar as a path to an "honorable" peace in Afghanistan, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday.

Addressing delegates at the Brussels Summit on Afghanistan, which is aimed at raising funds for the Afghan government, Kerry said that the Taliban could not win on the battlefield.

He pointed to a peace agreement announced last week with the Hizb-e-Islami headed by Hekmatyar, "one of the country’s most notorious figures," Reuters reported.

"This a model for what might be possible ... I think the message from every person here would be to the Taliban, take note," Kerry said.

"There is a path forward towards an honorable end to the conflict that the Taliban have waged – it is a conflict that cannot and will not be won on the battlefield. A political settlement negotiated with the Afghan government is the only way to end the fighting, ensure lasting stability, and achieve a full drawdown ultimately of international military forces, which is their goal," he said.

"Their goal of ridding Afghanistan of external forces will not occur by ... the continued insurgency, it will come though peace," Kerry added.

Last week's agreement requires Hekmatyar to cease violence, cut all ties with international militant groups, and accept the Afghan constitution, including its guarantee of rights for women and minorities.

"In return for keeping these commitments, Hekmatyar’s group will be able to emerge from the shadows to rejoin Afghan society," Kerry said.

The agreement will grant Hekmatyar amnesty for past offences and the release of certain Hizb-e-Islami prisoners. The Kabul government also agreed to press for the lifting of international sanctions on Hekmatyar.

The Brussels conference is expected to pledge more than $3 billion USD a year of development assistance to the Afghan government and Kerry said this was a sign that the world would stand by Afghanistan, Reuters reported.

"The Taliban and their allies cannot wait us out ... We will not abandon our Afghan friends," Kerry said.

Kerry Calls On Taliban To Choose Path To 'Honorable' Peace

The Taliban should look at the example of a deal between the Afghan government and militant comman

The Taliban should look at the example of a deal between the Afghan government and militant commander Gulbuddin Hekmatyar as a path to an "honorable" peace in Afghanistan, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday.

Addressing delegates at the Brussels Summit on Afghanistan, which is aimed at raising funds for the Afghan government, Kerry said that the Taliban could not win on the battlefield.

He pointed to a peace agreement announced last week with the Hizb-e-Islami headed by Hekmatyar, "one of the country’s most notorious figures," Reuters reported.

"This a model for what might be possible ... I think the message from every person here would be to the Taliban, take note," Kerry said.

"There is a path forward towards an honorable end to the conflict that the Taliban have waged – it is a conflict that cannot and will not be won on the battlefield. A political settlement negotiated with the Afghan government is the only way to end the fighting, ensure lasting stability, and achieve a full drawdown ultimately of international military forces, which is their goal," he said.

"Their goal of ridding Afghanistan of external forces will not occur by ... the continued insurgency, it will come though peace," Kerry added.

Last week's agreement requires Hekmatyar to cease violence, cut all ties with international militant groups, and accept the Afghan constitution, including its guarantee of rights for women and minorities.

"In return for keeping these commitments, Hekmatyar’s group will be able to emerge from the shadows to rejoin Afghan society," Kerry said.

The agreement will grant Hekmatyar amnesty for past offences and the release of certain Hizb-e-Islami prisoners. The Kabul government also agreed to press for the lifting of international sanctions on Hekmatyar.

The Brussels conference is expected to pledge more than $3 billion USD a year of development assistance to the Afghan government and Kerry said this was a sign that the world would stand by Afghanistan, Reuters reported.

"The Taliban and their allies cannot wait us out ... We will not abandon our Afghan friends," Kerry said.

Kerry Calls On Taliban To Choose Path To 'Honorable' Peace

The Taliban should look at the example of a deal between the Afghan government and militant commander Gulbuddin Hekmatyar as a path to an "honorable" peace in Afghanistan, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday.

Addressing delegates at the Brussels Summit on Afghanistan, which is aimed at raising funds for the Afghan government, Kerry said that the Taliban could not win on the battlefield.

He pointed to a peace agreement announced last week with the Hizb-e-Islami headed by Hekmatyar, "one of the country’s most notorious figures," Reuters reported.

"This a model for what might be possible ... I think the message from every person here would be to the Taliban, take note," Kerry said.

"There is a path forward towards an honorable end to the conflict that the Taliban have waged – it is a conflict that cannot and will not be won on the battlefield. A political settlement negotiated with the Afghan government is the only way to end the fighting, ensure lasting stability, and achieve a full drawdown ultimately of international military forces, which is their goal," he said.

"Their goal of ridding Afghanistan of external forces will not occur by ... the continued insurgency, it will come though peace," Kerry added.

Last week's agreement requires Hekmatyar to cease violence, cut all ties with international militant groups, and accept the Afghan constitution, including its guarantee of rights for women and minorities.

"In return for keeping these commitments, Hekmatyar’s group will be able to emerge from the shadows to rejoin Afghan society," Kerry said.

The agreement will grant Hekmatyar amnesty for past offences and the release of certain Hizb-e-Islami prisoners. The Kabul government also agreed to press for the lifting of international sanctions on Hekmatyar.

The Brussels conference is expected to pledge more than $3 billion USD a year of development assistance to the Afghan government and Kerry said this was a sign that the world would stand by Afghanistan, Reuters reported.

"The Taliban and their allies cannot wait us out ... We will not abandon our Afghan friends," Kerry said.